Extension arm which is pivotally mounted on a support

ABSTRACT

[According to the invention, a] A guide rod [( 44 )] is provided for improving the ability of an extension arm [( 6 )], which can rotate around [the] an axis [( 24 )] thereof, [to] and pivot on a support or a pole [( 4 )]. [Said] The guide rod can be locked into different rotational [angle] angular positions with the extension arm [( 6 )] and can be retained on the support [( 4 )].

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The invention relates to an extension arm which is arranged on asupport, such that it can be pivoted about its axis. According to apreferred embodiment, such an extension arm is designed as an extensiblefree arm and the support is designed as a pole of a free-arm sunshade.

[0003] 2. Description of the related art

[0004] An extension arm which is arranged on a support such that it canbe pivoted about its axis is known, for example, from EP 0 830 074 B1,in the case of which the extension arm is configured as an extensiblefree arm and the support is configured as the pole of a free-armsunshade. In order to make optimum use of the shade as the position ofthe sun changes, it is possible, not just for the pole to be rotatedabout its own axis but also, in particular, for the extension arm to bepivoted about its axis, with the result that the sunshade can be movedinto an appropriate oblique position and stopped, fixed, or lockedthere. For this purpose, a hand lever is fitted, for example, on theextension arm in order to pivot the extension arm, and thus thesunshade, and then to stop, fix, or lock the same in the pivotedposition by means of a clamping arrangement. The disadvantage here,however, is that the hand lever fitted on the extension arm is difficultto reach as a result of the extension arm usually being located at ahigh level. In addition, the operation of pivoting the extension armwith the sunshade framework requires relatively large forces, which canbarely be applied, if at all, by the small hand lever. Added to this isthe fact that, depending on the sunshade position, such a hand leverprojects to a more or less pronounced extent into the space occupied bythe user, which is not just unsightly but also poses a risk of injury tothe user.

[0005] The same applies to the clamping lever of the clampingarrangement for arresting the extension arm in the pivoted position. Inorder to improve the handleability, it is known to use a worm gearmechanism. Such a worm gear mechanism not only is a relatively expensivecomponent but also only allows slow adjustment and is barely accessible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The invention includes an extension arm, which is arranged on asupport such that it can be pivoted about its axis, in such a way thatpivoting is easily possible even with the extension arm located at arelatively high level and in the case of relatively large forces ofinertia.

[0007] Since the hand lever is configured as a guide rod, it is possiblefor the guide rod to be of a longer overall length, and thus for theextension arm to be arranged at a higher level, while such a guide rod,rather than projecting in an obstructive manner into the space occupiedby the user, is nevertheless always positioned, when in use, against thesupport, to which it is fixed or locked in a directly or indirectlyreleasable manner. This means that the guide rod does not constitute anyobstruction or hazard for the user and can nevertheless be handledstraightforwardly and with little required force.

[0008] A particularly straightforward arrangement of the guide rod onthe extension arm is specified when it is possible for the latching boltto be arranged and actuated independently of the guide rod. It isadvantageous if the latching bolt is prestressed toward the latchingrecess by means of a prestressing spring, thus achieving reliablelatching in the case of which undesired unlatching of the latching boltis prevented. If appropriate, it is possible for the guide rod to bearranged in an articulated manner on the latching bolt and to serve foractuating the latter. This increases, however, the risk of undesiredactuation, which is to be avoided for safety reasons. More advantageoustherefore is a possible configuration in which the traction element isarranged such that it is protected by the guide rod, with the resultthat undesired actuation is largely prevented. It is also possible herefor the traction element to be arranged outside the guide rod. Arrangingthe traction element within the guide rod results not just in bettersafety, but also in improved esthetics.

[0009] There are various possible ways of actuating the tractionelement. One manner includes a handle of the guide rod which also servesfor actuating the traction element. For esthetic, practical and, inparticular, safety purposes, however, an arrangement of an additionalcatch, assigned to the handle of the guide rod, for the traction elementis preferred.

[0010] In order to keep the extension arm, and a sunshade, which may befastened thereon, in the pivoted position, it is necessary to arrest(that is stop, fix, or lock) the guide rod on the support. There arevarious possible ways of so doing this arresting.

[0011] The guide rod may have various cross sections. Particularlyexpedient is a D-like cross section with a rounded part and arectilinear base part. In this case, the basic position is preferablyset up such that the rectilinear base part is directed toward thesupport.

[0012] There are likewise various possible ways of configuring theextension arm. It is thus possible, for example, for it to comprise asolid profile. A hollow configuration here makes it possible toaccommodate a traction element, for example, for opening and closing asunshade canopy.

[0013] The support may be of any desired design and may comprise, forexample, a wall or a pole. The configuration is advantageous inparticular for the use as a free-arm sunshade. In this case, the guiderod can expediently be arrested on a carriage belonging to the pole.

[0014] It is particularly advantageous if the extension arm is designedas an extensible free arm and the support is designed as a pole of afree-arm sunshade, as is similarly described in EP-B1 0 741 531 and 0830 074.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Advantageous configurations of the invention are described inmore detail hereinbelow using the example of a free-arm sunshade andwith reference to the drawings, in which:

[0016]FIG. 1 shows the free-arm sunshade in the closed position;

[0017]FIG. 2 shows the free-arm sunshade in the open position;

[0018]FIG. 3 shows, on a larger scale and partly in section, a detail ofthe connection between the extension arm and the support or pole;

[0019]FIG. 4 shows a guide rod in cross section;

[0020]FIG. 5 shows the free-arm sunshade before the extension arm andthe sunshade canopy have been pivoted; and

[0021]FIG. 6 shows the extension arm and the sunshade canopy in thepivoted position.

[0022] Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding partsthroughout the several views. The exemplification set out hereinillustrates one preferred embodiment of the invention, in one form, andsuch exemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope of theinvention in any manner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] With the exception of the specific configuration of the means forpivoting the extension arm, the free-arm sunshade illustrated in FIGS. 1to 6 may be configured in accordance similarly with EP-B1 0 741 531and/or 0 830 074.

[0024] The free-arm sunshade illustrated in the figures has a pole 4which is anchored, for example, in a base 2 and serves as a support foran extensible extension arm 6. The arm 6 is arranged on a carriage 8,which can be displaced along the pole 4, via an pivot or articulation10. The extension arm 6 is supported at the top end of the pole 4 via aconnecting rod 12. For this purpose, the connecting rod is connected, onthe one hand, to the extension arm 6 via an articulation 14 between thetwo ends of said extension arm and, on the other hand, to the top end ofthe pole 4 via a further articulation 16 (FIG. 2). By means of a crank18 and of a circulating element 20 indicated in FIG. 3, the carriage 8is moved up and down along the pole 4 from a rest position in FIG. 1, inwhich the extension arm 6 butts against the pole 4, into an extendedposition in FIG. 2. Details of the configuration of the circulatingelement 20 and of the crank mechanism 18 can be gathered from EP-B1 0741 531. EP-B1 0 830 074 describes alternative possible ways ofretracting and extending the extension arm.

[0025] Arranged at the end of the extension arm 6 is a sunshade canopy22 which is closed when the extension arm is retracted, as is shown inFIG. 1, and is open when the extension arm is extended, as can begathered from FIG. 2. There are likewise various possible ways ofopening and closing the sunshade canopy, of which preferred ways can begathered from the abovementioned specifications.

[0026] Details regarding the pivoting of the extension arm about itsaxis 24 and the components used for this purpose can be gathered fromFIG. 3 in particular. The extension arm 6 is of tubular configurationand, at its end which is directed toward the pole 4, has a bearing ring26 which is mounted pivotably on a supporting member 28. The supportingmember 28 is connected to the carriage 8 such that it can be pivoted viaan articulation 10. It is possible to arrange in the hollow extensionarm 6, for example, a cable pull 30 for opening and closing the sunshadecanopy 22.

[0027] Arranged on the outside of the bearing ring 26 is an adjustmentring 32 which can be pivoted about the bearing ring and bears a latchingbolt 36 in a housing 34. Said latching bolt is prestressed toward thebearing ring 26, and/or latching recesses 40 arranged therein, by meansof a spring 38. The bearing ring 26 has a plurality of circumferentiallydistributed latching recesses 40, of which the angle positionscorrespond to the adjustment positions of the extension arm 6 and thusof the sunshade canopy 22. Articulated on the housing 34 (FIG. 3) of thelatching bolt 36, via a bearing bolt 42, is a guide rod 44, designed asa tube. Provided in the interior of the guide rod 44 is a tractionelement 46 which is connected to the latching bolt 36 in a pivotablemanner via a coupling ring 48. The traction element 46 projects downwardthrough the guide rod 44 and is provided there with a catch 49 which isassigned to an eyelet-like handle 50 of the guide rod 44, as can begathered from FIGS. 5 and 6 in particular. In the rest position, theguide rod 44 is latched to the carriage 8, and thus to the pole 4, via afork-like arresting member 52, as can be gathered from FIGS. 1 and 2 andalso FIG. 6. By virtue of the guide rod 44 being arranged in anarticulated manner on the housing 34 via the bearing bolt 42, thearresting action of the guide rod 44 on the arresting member 52 ismaintained even when the extension arm 6 is moved out of its restposition in FIG. 1 into the extended position in FIG. 2 and vice versa.The guide rod is retained in a longitudinally displaceable manner in thefork-like arresting member 52 in order for it to be possible for it tofollow the movements of the articulation bolts 10 and 42 when theextension arm 6 is retracted and extended.

[0028] The pivoting of the extension arm 6 and thus of the sunshadecanopy-22 takes place as follows. If the sunshade canopy 22, and thusthe extension arm 6, is located in the basic position, in which thesunshade canopy is located horizontally, then the guide rod 44 isreleased from the arresting member 52 and the latching bolt 36 isreleased from the latching recess 40 via the catch 49 and the tractionelement 46. With the extension arm 6 at rest and/or the sunshade canopy22 horizontal, the guide rod 44 can then be pivoted laterally to theextent which corresponds to the subsequent pivot angle of the sunshadecanopy and which is shown in FIG. 5. Thereupon, the latching bolt 36 isbrought into engagement with an offset latching recess 40 (the latternevertheless not being illustrated specifically), with the result that,when the guide rod 44 is pivoted in relation to the carriage 8 and/orthe pole 4, the extension arm 6, and thus the sunshade canopy 22, ispivoted by the previously selected angle position, as is shown in FIG.6. The pivoted position is fixed by virtue of the guide rod 44 beinglatched to the arresting member 52. By virtue of the guide rod 44 beingreleased from the arresting member 52 and the guide rod 44 being pivotedback into the position shown in FIG. 5, it is possible to eliminate thepivoted position of the sunshade canopy 22 and/or the extension arm 6.Following release of the latching bolt 36 from the recess 40 by means ofthe traction element 46, the guide rod 44 can be pivoted back freelyagain into the basic position, in which the guide rod 44 latches on thecarriage 8 by way of the arresting element 52. In this position, thelatching bolt 36 also latches again in the corresponding basic-positionlatching recess on the bearing ring 26, with the result that theextension arm 6 and/or the sunshade canopy 22 is fixed in thehorizontal, basic position.

[0029] The guide rod 44 therefore allows straightforward pivoting of theextension arm and thus of the sunshade canopy, the length of the guiderod being selected such that, even with the extension arm located at ahigh level, the guide rod 44 and the handle 50 are easily accessible. Byvirtue of the lever transmission, the length of the guide rod 44 inparticular also allows easy pivoting of the sunshade canopy 22 and/orthe extension arm 6. This configuration allows round or polygonalsunshades of, for example, 3 to 5 m in diameter to be easily handled.

[0030] According to FIG. 4, the guide rod has a D-like cross sectionwith a rounded part 54 and a rectilinear base part 56. The basicposition is preferably set up here such that the base part 56 isdirected toward the pole 4 and/or the carriage 8. The shape of the guiderod can thus be better adapted to the profile of the pole 4 and of thecarriage 8, and it provides a good grip for the eccentric bearing bolt42 guided through the guide rod.

[0031] While this invention has been described as having a preferreddesign, the present invention can be further modified within the spiritand scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended tocover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using itsgeneral principles. Further, this application is intended to cover suchdepartures from the present disclosure as come within known or customarypractice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fallwithin the limits of the appended claims.

[0032] List of Designations 2 Base 4 Pole 6 Extension arm 8 Carriage 10Articulation 12 Connecting rod 14 Articulation 16 Articulation 18 Crank20 Circulating element 22 Sunshade canopy 24 Axis 26 Bearing ring 28Supporting member 30 Cable pull 32 Adjustment ring 34 Housing 36Latching bolt 38 Spring 40 Latching recess 42 Bearing bolt 44 Guide rod46 Traction element 48 Coupling ring 49 Catch 50 Handle 52 Arrestingmember 54 Rounded part 56 Rectilinear base part

What is claimed is: +P1 Please amend claim 1 as follows:
 1. [An] Apivotable extension arm [(6) which is arranged on] assembly comprising:a support; an extension arm arranged on said support so it can bepivoted on its axis into a position; a hand lever connected to saidextension arm to fix said extension arm in said pivoted position, saidhand lever including a guide rod that can be latched to said extensionarm in different angle of rotation positions and fixed to said support.[such that it can be pivoted about its axis and which can be pivoted,and arrested in the pivoted position, by means of a hand lever,characterized in that the hand lever is designed as a guide rod (44)which, on the one hand, can be latched to the extension arm (6) indifferent angle-of-rotation positions and, on the other hand, can bearrested directly or indirectly on the support (4).] Please amend claim2 as follows:
 2. The extension arm assembly as claimed in claim 1,[characterized in that the] in which guide rod [(44)] is arranged on anadjustment ring [(32)] which [can be pivoted] is pivotable about [the]said extension arm [(6)] and [can be latched] latchable to latchingrecesses [(40)] of [the] said extension arm [(6)] by means of a latchingbolt [(36)]. Please amend claim 3 as follows:
 3. The extension armassembly as claimed in claim 2, [characterized in that the] in whichlatching bolt [(36)] is prestressed toward [the] said latching recesses[(40)] by means of a prestressing spring [(38)]. Please amend claim 4 asfollows:
 4. The extension arm assembly as claimed in claim 3,[characterized in that the] in which said guide rod [(44)] is arranged[in an articulated manner] for articulation on [the] said latching bolt[(36)] in order to actuate the latter. Please amend claim 5 as follows:5. The extension arm assembly as claimed in claim 3, [characterized inthat the] in which said guide rod [(44)] is connected [in an articulatedmanner] for articulation to a housing [(34) of the] about said latchingbolt [(36)] and [contains] includes a traction element [(46)] which isconnected to [the] said latching bolt [(36)] for the release of [thelatter] traction element. Please amend claim 6 as follows:
 6. Theextension arm assembly as claimed in claim 5, [characterized in thatthe] in which said guide rod [(44)] is provided with an axialthrough-passage opening for accommodating [the] said traction element[(46)]. Please amend claim 7 as follows:
 7. The extension arm assemblyas claimed in claim 5 [or 6], [characterized in that the] in which saidtraction element [(46)] has an [a preferably] eyelet-like handle [(50)]which is arranged [[lacuna] the] adjacent a bottom end of [the] saidguide rod [(44)]. Please amend claim 8 as follows:
 8. The extension armassembly as claimed in claim 5 [or 6], [characterized in that the] inwhich said traction element [(46)] has a catch [(49)] which is assignedto a handle [(50)] of the guide rod [(44)]. Please amend claim 9 asfollows:
 9. The extension arm assembly as claimed in [one of claims 1 to8, characterized in that the] claim 1, in which said guide rod [(44)]can be [arrested] fixed on [the] said support [(4)] via an arrestingmember [(52)]. Please amend claim 10 as follows:
 10. The extension armassembly as claimed in [one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the]claim 1, in which said guide rod [(44) has] includes a D-like crosssection with a rounded part [(54)] and a rectilinear base part [(56)],[the] said base part [(56)] being directed toward [the] said support[(4)]. Please amend claim 11 as follows:
 11. The extension arm assemblyas claimed in [one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the] claim1, in which said extension arm [(6)] is hollow and [designed foraccommodating] accommodates a traction element [(30)]. Please amendclaim 12 as follows:
 12. The extension arm assembly as claimed in [oneof claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the] claim 1, in which saidsupport includes a pole, a carriage displayable and fixable along saidrole, said extension arm [(6) is] arranged on a supporting member [(28)]such that [it] said extension arm can be rotated about its axis [(24)],said supporting member being connected in an articulated manner to [a]said carriage [(8) which can be displaced, and arrested, along thesupport, which has a pole (4)]. Please amend claim 13 as follows: 13.The extension arm assembly as claimed in claim 12, [characterized inthat the] in which said guide rod [(44)] can be [arrested] fixed on[the] said carriage [(8)]. Please amend claim 14 as follows:
 14. Theextension arm assembly as claimed in [one of claims 1 to 13,characterized in that the] claim 1, in which said extension arm [(6)] is[designed as] an extensible free arm and [the] said support [(4)] is[designed as] a pole of a free-arm sunshade.